Prominent human rights lawyer Timothy Selikem Donkor has issued a stark warning to Ghana’s government and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over their apparent silence amid escalating constitutional violations and human rights abuses in neighboring Togo.
Speaking on Class Media’s Ho FM Morning Show, Donkor stressed that the ongoing constitutional amendments in Togo, being pushed through without public consultation or referenda, represent a dangerous assault on democratic principles in the West African region.
“The situation unfolding in Togo is not just a domestic issue; it’s a regional democratic emergency,” Donkor said, emphasizing the urgent need for Ghana and ECOWAS to reaffirm their commitment to constitutionalism and human rights.
He expressed deep concern that Ghana, once a leading voice for democracy under President John Dramani Mahama’s earlier tenure, has now adopted a troubling posture of passivity. Donkor contrasted Ghana’s decisive intervention in The Gambia in 2017, where ECOWAS forces helped restore democratic order following a refusal by then-President Yahya Jammeh to concede defeat, with the current inaction on Togo’s crisis.
“Ghana’s reluctance to condemn these unconstitutional moves undermines its credibility and moral leadership in the region,” Donkor argued. He cited Article 290 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which requires referenda for constitutional amendments, pointing out that similar democratic safeguards are being ignored in Togo.
Donkor also sounded the alarm on potential repercussions for Ghana’s own border regions, particularly the Volta, Oti, and Northern areas, which share deep ethnic and historical connections with Togo. The lawyer warned that unchecked repression in Togo could destabilize these communities and heighten regional tensions.
Highlighting reports from Togo, Donkor described a crackdown marked by mass arrests of protesters, media suppression, and alleged torture of detainees. He urged Ghana’s Parliament—especially MPs representing border constituencies—to break their silence and take a stand.
“We are ready to assist them in crafting statements to hold the government accountable. It is imperative they raise their voices,” Donkor insisted.
Closing with a call for principled leadership, Donkor declared: “Diplomacy must not be confused with silence. When silence enables injustice, it becomes complicity. Ghana must rise to protect the democratic ideals it upholds.”
